Data Specialist

About the Role

KPMG New Zealand, a prominent member of the global KPMG professional services network, offers audit, tax, and advisory expertise to a diverse client base ranging from individuals and SMEs to multinational corporations and government bodies. Known locally for a culture anchored in strong values and employee engagement, the company’s mission is to enhance New Zealand’s prosperity through integrity, courage, excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

This Data Specialist position is crucial in advancing KPMG’s transition to a data-driven and insights-oriented organization. The role focuses on developing, modernizing, and maintaining data infrastructures that facilitate trustworthy reporting, business automation, operational integration, and analytics across the firm.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, construct, and support data pipelines, integrations, databases, and analytical data models to empower business insights.
• Implement modern ETL/ELT processes within cloud environments, notably using Azure, Databricks, SQL Server, and associated cloud services.
• Aggregate and manage data from diverse sources including APIs, files, cloud platforms, internal applications, and vendor systems.
• Create curated data products utilized by semantic data models, Power BI reporting, downstream systems, and forthcoming AI-powered applications.
• Ensure operational support for data workloads, process automation, and maintain reference and master data on relational platforms when needed.
• Develop and continuously improve BI reporting frameworks, semantic layers, and analytic datasets that provide timely, precise, and consistent insights.
• Enhance data governance frameworks encompassing data quality, lineage tracking, access management, metadata handling, sensitivity classification, and thorough documentation.
• Utilize Azure DevOps alongside contemporary engineering methods for code maintenance, deployment, release management, and change control.
• Collaborate closely with stakeholders spanning business units, technology teams, data consumers, and external vendors to translate requirements into scalable, reliable data solutions.
• Monitor and troubleshoot existing data operations to uphold high standards of performance, security, reliability, and maintainability.

Candidate Profile

• Proven experience in cloud data engineering, with particular proficiency in Microsoft Azure cloud technologies.
• Hands-on skills in building and maintaining data pipelines with tools such as Azure Data Factory, Databricks, PySpark, Python, SQL, and SSIS.
• Familiarity with traditional data warehousing, SQL Server environments, SSIS, and operational data architectures, along with enthusiasm for evolving these into modern cloud-based frameworks.
• Strong SQL Server and Azure SQL capabilities, including writing T-SQL code, stored procedures, views, database indexing, relational modeling, and query tuning.
• Interest or direct experience with modern platforms like Databricks, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI semantic modeling, and governed data products.
• Experience integrating data from multiple sources such as APIs, files, databases, cloud services, and internal or external vendor platforms.
• Ability to manage transitional phases by supporting existing operations while guiding the adoption of enhanced engineering and governance practices.
• Knowledge of Azure DevOps tools for source control, release protocols, and automated deployment.
• Effective communication skills to engage with business and technical teams as well as vendors, ensuring clear requirements and deliverable alignment.
• Attributes include pragmatism, curiosity, collaboration, and a balanced approach to stable business processes and innovation.

Additional Information

This role suits professionals who thrive on managing both current operational data services and future-oriented platform modernization initiatives focused on cloud data engineering, trusted analytics, governed data assets, and emergent AI capabilities.

Recruitment Agencies: Recruitment for this vacancy is conducted internally by KPMG’s Talent Acquisition team, and agency support will be engaged only if necessary.

Inclusivity and Accessibility

KPMG welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities, mental health considerations, chronic conditions, or neurodivergence. Accessibility support is available upon request to ensure equitable participation in the recruitment process.

Employee Benefits

• Participation in the firm's annual incentive program.
• Opportunities for both local and international secondments.
• A hybrid work model combining office, client, and home environments tailored to individual needs.
• Option to work remotely from overseas to maintain personal connections.
• Flexible leave policies, including additional annual leave purchase options.
• Gender-neutral parental leave policy offering up to 18 weeks of paid leave for all new parents.
• Financial support for membership in relevant professional bodies.
• Access to digital accreditation training via partnerships with leading platforms such as Microsoft.
• Discounts and special offers on insurance, banking, lifestyle products, and services.
• Inclusion in diversity and equity networks including cultural, LGBTQ+, accessibility, and gender affinity groups.
• Participation in environmental initiatives aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030.
• Social club membership facilitating community activities and events.
• Paid volunteer leave and engagement in citizenship initiatives.
• Comprehensive wellness programs including free flu shots, subsidized sports, counseling services, additional wellbeing leave, and access to wellness resources.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

KPMG may employ AI tools to assist certain hiring stages such as application review and resume analysis to identify inconsistencies. However, final decisions remain human-led.